Dear Enemy, You're My Mate

Chapter 62 **

Alice

The moment I'm released from Riley's compulsion, I rush down the stairs to the raised column holding up the ceiling. Lightning and fire are being thrown behind me, but I couldn't care any less.

My biggest concern is William's wellbeing. A part of me is still hopeful, thinking he might not die from his injury. But the moment I fall to my knees and see the damage, I know he is a goner.

Shit-shit-shit!

My heart is pounding against my ribcage, so hard and fast it's threatening to break me from within. I've never been this scared in my entire life, and I hold my breath as I take William's hand in mine.

He is already cold!

"William?" I sob.

My mate slowly opens his eyes, but he is too weak to speak. Blood is spilling down on the floor, covering the entire floor beneath him. William is dying, yet his lips form a gentle smile upon seeing my face, which breaks me apart even further.

I never deserved this lovely man.

"Alice..." William whispers weakly, and then the light dies in his eyes. His head rolls to the side, and I scream at the top of my lungs.

"No... Don't leave me!"

My heart turns into a sinking ship—I'm drowning in grief, barely able to hold it together as I gaze down at William. I can no longer hear his heartbeat.

"Please..." I shake his hand. "Wake up, please!"

The fight is still taking place inside the large room. There are explosions and screams as both Patricia and Dior struggle to win against the overpowered Riley with the three elements, and the sounds are so loud that I jump when a hand land on my shoulder.

Startled, I turn around, only to furrow my eyebrows at older Dior sitting right behind me. He is wearing his own more aged face today, together with a grey hoodie.

My voice is broken when I whisper at him. "What are you doing here?"

Older Dior's gaze falls to study William's body, and then he inhales deeply with a slight smile. "I found a way to save your mate, Alice—just like I promised I would."

Hope ignites within my chest. "You did?"

The corner of his lips quirks up. "Uh-huh."

For a moment, I only gawk at Dior. I don't believe his words. Saving William's life sounds too good to be true, and hope is one hell of a dangerous drug—it can drive any person mad.

Despite my inner fear, I speak in a weak voice. "And h-how would you do that?"

Older Dior wags his eyebrow. "Do you really want to know?"

I snort despite the warm tears on my face. "Come on! Just tell me, already, you meanie."

"Alright," Dior whispers. "Then maybe I will."

Without saying a word, older Dior leans forward with his hand brushing red strands away from my face. His eyes zero in on mine, and I watch the dimples on his face turn deeper.

Truth to be told, older Dior is one hell of a handsome man, and I convince myself that it's only my physical attraction to him that got me sweating around him—nothing else.

"I never expected this outcome..." Dior says, studying my face with his eyebrows creased in thought.

My eyes dart around his beautiful face in confusion. I fear what he might do, what he might be planning. Is he here to trick me?

"What outcome?" I ask.

Dior chuckles. "You will see."

My eyes zoom in on his mischievous expression, and the man leans forward, kissing me right on the mouth with his large hand taking my smaller one in his. What-the-actual-fuck?! What is he doing?! My heart explodes in my chest, and the initial shock of Dior tasting my lips makes me inhale and mewl into his mouth.

Dior responds by deepening the kiss until he suddenly dips back his head and lets me go. He is wearing the face of an angel today, which I find even more confusing than our kiss.

When I remain silent, Dior speaks in his usual teasing tone. "William is one lucky man, Alice—your kisses are to die for, I promise."

I stare at him, blinking while his lips twitch into a warm smile. It's then that I realize what he has done. Older Dior is see-through, and the dangerous glint in his eye is gone—all I see is affection and a hint of chemistry I've never acknowledged before.

His lips part into a smile way too bittersweet for my heart to handle. "A life for a life—isn't that how the saying goes?"

And then, within a second, my friend is gone with the wind, and his last words make tears roll down my face.

"I don't think I was brought to this dimension to meet Patricia. Sure, she is lovely and utterly gorgeous, but she never affected me as you did. She touched my heart while you moved my soul. Eating ice cream with you and watching you cry during every lame Disney movie were some of my best moments. So thank you for being my friend until the very end, Alice."

I sob, and my heart wrenches. I'm not sure why I'm sad that my pathetic, shitty friend is dead or why I even care about him. But when William's wounds heal, and he opens his eyes, I can't help but feel like I betrayed older Dior by not being there for him during his last moments.

All older Dior wanted was Patricia's love, and when he realized he couldn't have it, the man gave up his life to make me happy. And although I would never say it out loud, his kiss made me experience butterflies, which shouldn't happen, considering I'm mated to William.

I love William.

I have only one mate.

So why does it feel like I've lost a part of myself?

"Wow..." William sits up. "I'm b-back?"

I wipe a tear from my eye, ignoring my broken heart. "Yes, so why don't we join the battle?"